Birmingham: Shubman Gill produced one of the most commanding innings of his Test career, scoring a masterful 269 to lead India to a massive first-innings total of 587 on Day 2 of the second Test against England at Edgbaston here on Thursday.
The Indian skipper’s marathon knock, spanning 387 balls and nearly eight hours, was studded with 30 boundaries and three sixes. His innings laid the foundation for India’s dominance, as they capitalised on a steady platform to seize control of the match.
Gill resumed the day on 114 and showcased a wide repertoire of strokes through partnerships with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. The sixth-wicket stand of 203 with Jadeja (89) rescued India from a mid-innings wobble at 211/5, while the 144-run association with Sundar (42) pushed India towards an imposing total.
Jadeja’s aggressive yet composed innings ended when he gloved a short ball from Josh Tongue to the wicketkeeper, while Sundar was dismissed by Joe Root in the post-tea session. Despite some resistance from the English bowlers, Gill continued to dominate, bringing up his double-century with a flick off Tongue and passing 250 with a deft late glide off Brook.
England's bowlers toiled on a flat pitch with little assistance. Chris Woakes returned the most economical figures (2/81), while debutant Shoaib Bashir claimed 3/167 but at a high cost. Tongue (2/119), Root (1/20), Brydon Carse, and Ben Stokes all chipped in with a wicket each, but none could contain the momentum built by Gill and the Indian middle order.
By tea, India had reached 564/7 and added 23 more before being bowled out, leaving England with the unenviable task of facing a fired-up Indian attack late in the day.
The English top order crumbled under pressure in their reply. Akash Deep struck twice in the third over, removing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope for ducks in successive deliveries.
Mohammed Siraj then got the important wicket of Zak Crawley (19), who had looked threatening with three early boundaries. England were reduced to 25 for 3 before Harry Brook (30*) and Joe Root (18*) mounted a counterattack.
Brook played a bold knock, stepping out for a six off Mohammed Siraj and finding the gaps with precision, while Root kept the scoreboard ticking and survived a close lbw call via DRS. Despite their late resistance, England ended the day still trailing by 510 runs, with only seven wickets in hand and an uphill battle ahead.
Score Summary: India 1st innings: 587 all out in 151 overs (Shubman Gill 269, Jadeja 89, Sundar 42; Bashir 3/167, Woakes 2/81); England 1st innings: 77/3 in 20 overs (Brook 30*, Root 18*; Akash Deep 2/36, Siraj 1/21); Stumps, Day 2: England trail by 510 runs with 7 wickets in hand.
